Customer Reviews

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Off the Map

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wasn't sure what to expect from a RHCP's live performance with John Frusciante back in the lineup. By far my favorite guitar player they've had, I didn't know if he could still play after his drug abuse problems in the years away from the band. Their "Californication" did little to alleviate those fears, his playing and soloing being so sparse and sort of un-practiced sounding. Don't get me wrong. "Californication" is a great album but it's much different from the chops galore "Blood Sugar Sex Magic". (And I don't mean that as a slam-BSSM is a masterwork in no small part due to Frusciante's intricate, interweaving lines throughout).

"Off the Map" put all my doubts to bed. Frusciante plays his [behind] off. Just check out "If You Have to Ask". Shredding, but he's so much more than than just a shredder. Something magical happens when his Strat, through a Wah, hits a Marshall. It's the tone for sure and then his note selection and use of space that really sets him apart from "shredders". I had read recently in a guitar magazine interview that he's trying to change his style, henceforth the new, sparse approach he's used on the last two albums. It's pretty funny to watch actually. When they play the new songs his playing shifts dramatically to the new style he's developing.

And don't let me forget Chad Smith and Flea. They are powerhouses here. Flea's gone from slapmaster (oh, he can still slap!) to improvisor and it suits him well. Chad is like a rock holding John and Flea's improvisations together.

This is a fun and inspiring dvd. The only reason I don't give it a 5 star review is because it does falter here and there. But that's what you get when your live show isn't prerecorded canned [stuff] and you take musical risks. That where the fun happens with these guys.

This DVD has almost everything I was hoping it would...obscure live songs, expected live songs, interesting behind-the-scenes footage, and a good show. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the Flea/Anthony-centered editing job. Yes, they're colorful, but in a live show I want to watch John, primarily. Or, at least, I want to hear him upfront. This DVD is vocal/bass-led, and John's guitar doesn't lead, it just fits in. I feel this detracts from their sound. However, this is an excellent DVD, and I hope you buy it. You'll enjoy it.

unlike a previous viewer i prefer this to the slane castle dvd. i will qualify this by saying that both are excellent shows, and any dedicated fan will want both. when i watch a concert on dvd i don't really want to see the audience, who cares. off the map just seems a lot more intimate than slane. slane suffers from mtv style editing at times, especially in the beginning, flashing from shot to shot without letting me see the action. off the map is more artistic, shot by dick rude, and has tons of great long shots. having saw the peppers on both the californication and by the way tours, i think the by the way tour was significantly better, but with the presentation of slane the band can get lost at times among the editing and vast crowd. if you have to choose, get off the map if you like an intimate event focused on the band, get slane if you like the big rock and roll event. both are fantastic. oh yeah, and the special features for once on a dvd are fantastic. search and destroy!

The RHCP are those pesky funky monks that don't know when to quit, they're still around after all these years and good on them for sticking around when so many other bands would've packed up and faded away after all these years. Off The Map: The Concert DVD is actually one of the best concerts I have managed to buy. This concert was the final one in their popular 'Californication' tour. The DVD is great quality and goes for 2 hours. It can be viewed on DVD, DVD-ROM and Playstation compatible.

The DVD has also pre-show backstage footage as well as interviews with separate band members but what sells the DVD is actually the concert. 18 songs are included within the concert footage with many of the Californication album hits as well as some oldies from past albums. The funky monks are aging like fine wine and the result is better music delivery. There is also a section of additional live footage from the studio of Parallel Universe, I could have Lied, Search and Destroy.

A must get and see for any funky monks fan.

although the d.v.d has horrible lighting and skin tones are completely screwed up, the music is amazing. The jams, the funk, and the music is all really inspiring and amazing.
You'll find yourself completely rocking out to the tunes. They perform a lot of songs from "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" which made me very happy. Flea, in no contest, is the star of the concert, with amazing kick-butt energy, and his well received version of "pea" that he performs... John Frusciante also performs a very touching version of "Niadra Lades and Usually Just a Tshirt #3". I decided that I loved the dvd after a few watches, because it takes a while to grow. THey also perform many songs from "Californication," because that is the Cd they just performed. They also have a bonus interview, I believe, and it is very funny and touching, inteviewing the band members.
Off The Map is a Red HOt chili pepper must-have, and I enjoyed the heck out of it.. I watch it all the time! :)

All of the "it's amazing" reviews are completely accurate with the 2 selling points being the varied setlist and of course Johns playing, but there is one thing that i would dish out $20 for alone. The version of the Stooges "Search and Destroy" is one of the greatest songs i have ever heard, and I'm not just talking cover songs, I'm talkin greatest tracks in any genre by and band period. It is unbelievable, if you haven't seen it go get it for that track alone you won't be dissapointed.

This DVD catches the Chili Peppers at the end of their tour for Californication. The band sounds strong and they are still filled with that great energy that makes them one of the best live bands in the world. The disc covers some great songs not found on the "Live at Slain Castle" DVD. The band is more raw in their performance compared to the more polished 2003 disc from Slain Castle. In addition, unlike the "Slain" DVD, there are backstage extras as a bonus. If you have never seen this band live, this disc and the above mentioned disc are not to be missed.

A definite must have for any Chili's fan. Only wish that they had better matched the footage with the audio. The editors did a great job with what they had i guess. It's subtle stuff, like on Give it Away(2nd track) John's boxer shorts "magically" change from red, to white, and then blue, and randomly switch between those 3 colors throughout the DVD. To say this is footage from one show is just plain silly. Unless they performed each song 3 times. It's really cool that there is finally some Concert footage of the peppers that wasn't all messed up with the "MTV Style" epileptic camera work. Each member of the band seems to get equal amounts of close-ups(well, except for poor chad). So, aside from the annoying inconsistencies with the video footage, this is an awesome showcase for the chili peppers of the new millenium, older and even more in tune with their instruments and music and each other. And it drives me nuts when i read that one review where the kid said "Heck, even John sounds good here (lets face it folks, he isnt a great guitar player).". I beg to differ, I think the man is part guitar, like it's an extension of his soul. He's got an incredible sense of harmony. His playing is a big part of why the Chili Peppers are as good as they are, especially with he and flea's chemistry. He's one musician who puts himself into his playing, makes his own sounds(just like flea and chad, BTW). Anyone with an ear for music can appreciate his work. it definitely shows on this dvd. So, buy it and have fun watching Anthony's mohawk rise and fall, watch his wristbands change colors back and forth. Count how many times John changes his boxers without putting his guitar down. Seriously though, awesome DVD.

All I have to say is I guess most of you have never seen "Psychedelic Sexfunk Live from Heaven"!!! If you had there's NO WAY you could give this 5 stars.
Of course that's hard to do when IT'S NOT ON DVD!!! What's up with that Peppers?!?!? THAT is raw, live Peppers!!! Those of you that haven't seen it need to break down and buy the VHS (available used here on Amazon) and help me lobby the Peppers to release it, along with the Positive Mental Octopus video collection. In fact they could take a lesson from their early 90's competition Faith No More and release them together as a low-priced double DVD!!!
Not to say there's really anything wrong with this DVD, I like all Peppers, but the "Mothers Milk" CD remains my favorite and, after all, Sex Funk IS filmed on the Mothers Milk tour in their home town (which greatly adds to the overall atmosphere) and also has back stage footage.
Bottom line...if you are a fan, buy this, just remember it's not the best visual record of the Peppers!!!!!!

This was pretty much what I expected, having seen them on this tour. The quality and presentation aren't quite as nice as Live at Slane Castle but the older and more diverse setlist definitely makes up for it. It's actually very representative of that tour in that the performance and production are a little sloppier and less perfect (in a good way) and there are only a handful of songs that appear on both dvds. A must-have for longtime fans, maybe not so much for the "I only like their new stuff" types.